Year 3... will it be any better??

My weight is down.  I'm a size 7-8 from a 14 just 2 years ago.  That's the good news.  Bad news?  I didn't do it the healthy way so it'll be hard to keep off.  I fell into my old bad habits of quick weight loss. I'm back to walking now and playing outside with the dog, but I'm hoping it's not too little too late.  I do not want to gain the weight back, as I have done for the past 20 years.  But, I should have thought of that before taking the easy way out... again.

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More bad news, my son has been diagnosed with testicular cancer. He had the mass removed, but we
 won't know if it's malignant until after the biopsy.  I'll keep everyone posted.  Pray for the best.

THEY FIT!!! THEY FIT!!!!

I bought a size 10 pair of shorts because they were too cute to pass up and I figured eventually they'd fit... THEY FIT NOW!!! I must have lost more inches than pounds!  Happy Easter to all!!

I'm feeling good lately.  Going to psych dr. to try and get rid of this anxiety.  She has already told me that I am borderline agoraphobic and if I don't get a handle on it, I will not be able to leave my house, even to get out in my yard amongst my wonderful flower beds and hummingbirds.  Not cool...  I can't have that happen.  Getting out in the dirt and planting to make something look beautiful is a great joy in my life.  I call it "dirt therapy".  I can't lose that.  So, even though it takes a huge toll on me emotionally to get out there to go to the doc, I'm not giving up!  

Pics tomorrow of my new hibiscus.

24-Day Challenge, of sorts....

With Christmas right around the corner, I can't afford to purchase products.  However, I wanted to start the 24-Day Challenge with the others.  So I decided to do a little experiment.  I am taking my 24 days and exercising at least 30 mins every day, eating the Dr. Oz slim down plan, and taking better care of myself.  I will see how much weight I lose that way, compared to the other girls who are using Advocare.  Then, next month, I'll do my real 24-Day Challenge (with products) and gauge the difference in weight loss no products vs. products.  Wish me luck!  Day 1 down and did pretty good....

I am now selling the Advocare line of weight loss products:

I love and believe in these products so much that I've decided to become a distributor!  Follow the link to order products.  If you have any questions, find me on facebook or email me at parnold0623@live.com.

BACK ON TRACK!

Although I won't have my Advocare products for a couple of weeks, I'm back on track with my weight loss.  I have to get up at 7am to be ready for the baby coming over, so that gets my day started earlier.  My exercise routine still isn't up to par, but I've added more protein into my diet and I do move constantly with the baby here.  When he's not here, I'm doing yard work and gardening.  As a result, I lost 4 lbs this week.  I'm at 161 though because I had gained 6 back from the yucky feeling days (Mother Nature helped).  If nothing else, I'm proud that I didn't let the bogged down feeling KEEP me down.  It could've been my bipolar cycling as well, so YAY that it didn't last weeks as it usually does.  At any rate, I'm back at it and happy.  I put a dry erase board on my fridge that has BREAKFAST: protein, oatmeal, fruit, water... Catalyst, exercise, water... LUNCH: protein, veggie, fruit, water...  DINNER: protein, veggie, fruit, water... Catalyst, exercise, water... SNACK: choice of nuts & berries OR Activia yogurt, water...  along with boxes for check marks, of course.  Not all of them are filled in (I don't cheat), but most are so I'm proud but need to do better.  And I get extra water when I'm outside in the yard, sweating out most of what I've already drank for the day.  I'm getting about 3-4 hours of yard work exercise per day.  My yard is looking spectacular.  Pics tomorrow.  

3 days left of the challenge:

I'm on day 21 of the 24 day, so I guess including today is 4 days left.  Still feeling absolutely fantastic!  I've noticed the scale being stuck at 160 for the past week.  Hoping it goes down next week, but for now the clothes are still fight better, I have way more energy, and my measurements are also going down.  Did measurements this week, along with weighing.   Here are the results:

3/24/11
R. ankle 9  L. 9
R. calf  13  L. 13 3/4
R. knee 15 1/2 L. 15 1/4
R. thigh 22 3/4  L. 22 1/4
hips 42
waist 32 3/4
bust 37
R. upper arm 12 3/4  L 12 3/4 (hey, they match YAY!)
R. L. arm 8 3/4  L 9
neck 12 1/4

3/19/11 (JUST 5 DAYS AGO!!)
R. ankle 9 1/4  -1/4  L. 9  stayed the same
R. calf 13 3/4 -1/4  L. 13 3/4 stayed the same
R. knee 15 +1/2 (that's odd)  L. 15 + 1/4
R. thigh 25 -2 1/4  L. 25 1/4 -3 (I KNEW it, I can see a big diff in my thighs)
(note for above...  probably from all the squats on the 30 day Wii challenge)
hips 43 -1
waist 36 -3 1/4
bust 37  stayed the same (thank God.  Don't want to lose that)
R. upper arm  13 7/8 -1 1/8  L. 13 5/8 -1 1/4
R. lower arm  9 -1/4  L. 9 stayed the same
neck 12 1/2 -1/4
GRAND TOTAL OF OVERALL INCHES LOST: -9 3/4" 


ABSOLUTELY AMAZING.....  that was only in 5 DAYS!!!  I wish I would have taken my measurements right BEFORE the 24 day challenge!!  But I didn't think of it.  So, it's been 30 minutes and I'm going to drink my "Almond Joy" (for those of you who haven't been following, that's my advoCare chocolate meal replacement and 1/4 tsp. of almond extract!)

Loving my life right about now...

Now that I am getting "back to myself", I am really loving life!  The weather has been very cooperative, and so I have planted all of my marigold seeds, as well as some pansies and violas.  My morning glories are about an inch high.  As for my diet, today I had Special K cereal w/banana and ff milk.  For lunch, I had New York strip steak (1/4 of a whole one) on a whole wheat bun.  Loads and Loads of water.  And with both meals I took 1 Mega T green tea capsule.  My scale is still not working, despite replacing the battery so I don't know for sure how much weight I've lost, but I can see it and feel it.  It got too late for dinner, and I was not hungry anyways so I didn't have any.  Til tomorrow then....

Haven't written in a week...

Hello, I'm back!  Literally, but not figuratively (meaning my figure!).  I have the "old me" back, as far as my attitude and personality.  Now I just need to shed this extra person that has settled herself over top of my real body.  I sound like I'm talking about a pod person or something, I know, but that's really what it feels like.  So, the remainder of my blogs will consist of holding myself accountable for the calories I take in and the calories that I expend.  Of course, there will be some gardening tidbits along the way!  I'll be writing again tonight, tallying the day's totals.

Well, darn it....

Good thing I'm not all that hungry today, because I'm eating my words!!  Steelers lost :(   Good game, Packers.  Hung outside, waiting to see some hummingbirds at my feeder, but they aren't around yet.  So, I'll hang out there again tomorrow, waiting and hoping.  Oh, and I lost 2 more lbs.  YAY, me!

GO STEELERS!!!

No time to write today.  Steelers are about to win the Super Bowl (again).  Please don't make me eat my words, Steelers!!!!  lol.....

Ok hummingbirds, now you can eat....

Very excited today as I put my hummingbird feeder out.  I was having my morning coffee, patiently awaiting the arrival of my new "guests" when the rain that God has been promising us for the last three days finally arrived.  My morning glories have started to emerge from the ground around the tree.  They will be an extra treat for the hummingbirds when they are in full bloom.  I expect they'll grow all the way up the tree, just like they did last year.  The hummingbirds love to suck the nectar from morning glory blooms.  I think this year, I'll put in one of those mist spraying bird baths also.  Was able to wake up earlier..... 8 am to be exact! YAY, me!  So, in honor of the new hummingbird feeder, I leave you with this image......

Ok, bump in the road notwithstanding... back on track

Rough night last night, as all who are keeping up with my blog already know.  But, today is a new day and I'm facing it with a smile!  I worked out in the garden area today.  Can't call it a garden yet, as it is just in the planning and building stages.  I've got the newspaper laid out to kill the grass and weeds, right where I want my vegetables to grow.  Later on tonight I'll be going to Walmart and buying my topsoil and additives to throw on top of that.  Muscles are definitely feeling the burn from moving all of the bricks that I used to hold the newspaper down, as well as pushing the wheelbarrow around and raking up last years leaves.  Starting to see some green in my brown grass finally.  Spring is emerging!  I think it's absolutely miraculous that I can say that already, when so many of my Northern friends are snowed in. . . .  Sorry, guys!  I am thinking warm and wonderful thoughts of you all, if that helps in the least bit.  I'm hoping that you all will be thinking cooling thoughts of me come June and July when your weather is beautiful and mine is scorching!!!  As for diet and exercise, my Special K Challenge is still ongoing... and the yard work speaks for itself with the exercise portion of my self-renewal.  Although yard work is a natural way to exercise, I still need to add some "formal" cardio to that, to get my metabolism racing.  I must admit, today I actually woke up at 8:30 am fully intending on popping in my Jillian Michaels DVD.  Alas, I went back to sleep instead.  In this case, I'm reminded of the "road to ... is filled with good intentions."  So, I admonish myself and resolve to get up earlier tomorrow.  'Til then, here is some pretty color for you Northerners.... (my Ipheon bulbs, when they are in full bloom)

Just when you think that part is over with....

Why is it when I'm doing good, the person who brought me down the most decides to burst my bubble??  What part of "NEVER CALL ME AGAIN" is unclear?  I didn't leave any doubt in that sentence whatsoever.  No, "well, you know maybe someday..."  No!  I said, plain as day, "NEVER CALL ME AGAIN".  My mood was improving.  I'm losing weight, inches even!  I am getting back to being my old self and then BAMMM, there he is.  Very proud of myself though, that I did not talk to him.  I just reminded him, AGAIN, that he is not to call me.  I am either going to have to change my phone number or invest in a phone with caller ID.  Ok, well.... back on track tomorrow.  Can't let this get me down.  Head is spinning, kind of at a loss for words so.....

'Til tomorrow...

Listening to music and dancing... YES ALL BY MYSELF... in my kitchen

I am LOVING my new attitude.  Every day I'm feeling more and more like my old self.  I've only lost like 8 lbs. since starting this, but I've lost a TON of old baggage so I feel loads lighter.  So, in reality, I've lost 130 lbs.  At least that's what he claims he weighed, but I'm saying it's more like 120 (he was a little guy... in every way!!!!) It's another beautiful day outside here in sunny Florida, so I will be going outside to plant some Nicotiana, some mixed Canna seeds, some Lemon Queen sunflower seeds, Mexican Bird of Paradise, some Hollyhocks and some Morning Glories.  I have to get on the 'net and look up how tall all of them get first so I know where I want to plant them.  Except the morning glories, I know just where those are going.... right around the base of the one and only tree in my yard because they will climb clear to the top.  The hummingbirds love that. Can't wait to get my feeders out in a couple of days.  So, I'm loving this new site that my son (thanks, Raymond) found for me to pull music off of...  BearShare....  awesome site, free but LEGAL.  You should check it out if you enjoy music like I do.  Well, all, have a great day and I will be back later!!!

My idea of a perfect day...

Well, that was just wonderful.  I worked out in the yard most of the day.  Played on the computer a little bit.  Chatted with an old friend who I miss dearly.  I got my Hibiscus planted, and she is happy about that. (I refer to all of my flowering plants as "her"...  my cacti and trees are "him"... one of my many quirks).  Nothing like a hard days work in the yard to tone up the muscles naturally!  I love it!  And, soon, I'll be rewarded by the beauty of color in my yard.  Next week, I'm putting out the bird feeders.  Usually leave them up year round, but I moved so many times this year that I didn't bother putting them out at the last place (knew I wouldn't be there long... it was the ex's place, and HE'S the reason I moved so many times this year.  Oh well, live and learn)...  Anywho.... loving my yard and loving that I'm feeling "me" returning!
Now, I'm gonna crank up MY music (now that I'm not bound by what someone else wanted to listen to...), read my Sunday paper and cut my coupons out!!!  Yep, she (meaning, me) is coming back!!!

'Til tomorrow, enjoy this photo of some of the Crocus bulbs I have planted and that are starting to come up already (the pic shows them last year in full bloom)....

What a beautiful day....

Well, it is just gorgeous outside today.  One of the reasons I moved from Michigan to Florida was to escape the cold weather.  Today, with it being sunny and 72 degrees in January, is proof that I did the right thing!  My day is going to be full of something that I love.... yard work and gardening!!!  Have to prepare the ground, as we are able to start planting certain vegetables and flowers around mid to late February around here.  I usually start everything indoors until mid March though.  All that yard work will have my muscles feeling good later, and even better tomorrow!  Have decided for sure, due to late night infomercials, to try out Zumba fitness.  I'm going to order the DVD series off www.Zumba.com.  I am so excited about the day today... I can't wait to get out in my yard!!  I'll post more later.

Til then....